Device for facilitating the removal of explosive cartridges



March *2, 1965 w. F. BROSKE 3,171,224

DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGES Filed Jan. 8, 1962 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. BROSKE United States Patent 3,171,224 DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF EXRLOSIVE CARTRIDGES William F. Broske, Camp Hill, Pa., assignor to AW Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Ian. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 164,756 3 Claims. (Cl. 421) In explosively-actuated, industrial tools, it has been discovered that plastic cartridges may be used with advantage. It is particularly advantageous in a cartridge that entraps the exploded gases in the cartridge, as set forth in Patent No. 3,007,409, since the plastic is able to absorb shock without rupture.

One of the disadvantages of this arrangement is that the exploded gases cause expansion of the cartridge, making it difficult to remove the spent cantridge from the tool. It is an object of this invention to provide a means for permitting the entrapped gases to escape from the cartridge to facilitate removal of the cartridge.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device illustrating the principles of this invention prior to the punctuning of the cartridge; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 1, with the cap threaded onto the firing chamber prior to firing the cartridge.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the cartridge C comprises a cylinder 10, closed at one end 12 forming a head member. An explosive charge 14 is contained in the cylinder and is retained by a plug 16 with a detonating means 18.

A firing chamber 20 has a nipple 22 with threads 2 on its exterior surface. The cartridge C fits snugly within the chamber 20 with the head member 12 resting against the nipple 22.

A cap 26 fits over the end of the firing chamber 20 and has interior threads 28 which mate with the threads 24 on firing chamber 20. The inner surface 31 of the cap bears against the head 12 of the cartridge C to secure the cartridge tightly in the firing chamber.

A tapered prong or pointed member projects from the inner surface 30 of the cap 26. As shown in FIGURE 2, when the device is assembled, the prong pierces the head 12 of the cartridge C.

Operation The cartridge C is inserted into the firing chamber 20 and the cap 26 threaded onto the nipple 22. The prong 32 punctures the head 12 but retains a tight seal to prevent escape of combustion gases.

The device is then detonated by a firing pin (not shown) and the combustion gases are retained in the cartridge as described in my prior patent, No. 3,007,409. This causes a slight swelling of the cartridge, rendering it difiicult to remove from the firing chamber. Removal of the cap 26 withdraws the prong 32 from the head 12, leaving an aperture which permits combustion gases to escape. The pressure within the cartridge is relieved and the cartridge may be easily removed from the tool.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their roper perspective against the prior art.

I claim:

1. The combination of a firing device and explosive cartridge, said firing device having a firing chamber and a cap releasably secured to the firing chamber, said explosive cartridge comprised of a casing and a head at one end of the casing, said cap bearing against the head to retain the cartridge in the firing chamber, and means on the cap for puncturing the head of the casing to permit the escape of combustion gases from the cartridge upon the removal of the cap.

2. The combination of a firing device and explosive cartridge, said firing device having a firing chamber and a cap releasably secured to the firing chamber, said explosive cartridge comprised of a casing and a head at one end of the casing, said cap bearing against the head to retain the cartridge in the firing chamber, and a pointed member on the inner surface of the cap for puncturing the head of the casing when the cap is secured to the firing chamber.

3. The combination of a firing device and explosive cartridge, said firing device having a firing chamber and a cap releasably secured to the firing chamber, said explosive cartridge comprised of a casing and a head at one end of the casing, said cap bearing against the head to retain the cartridge in the firing chamber; said cap having a threaded surface which mates with a threaded surface on the firing chamber, and a tapered projection on the inner surface of the cap for puncturing the head of the casing and extending interiorly of the firing chamber when the cap is secured thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,190,070 7/16 Abraham 421 2,632,391 3/53 Kintzinger 42-69 X 2,889,748 6/59 Harvey 42l X 2,968,811 1/61 Henning et al. 42-1 X 3,008,258 11/61 Johnson 42--l4 3,029,705 4/62 Broske 42l X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A FIRING DEVICE AND EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGE, SAID FIRING DEVICE HAVING A FIRING CHAMBER AND A CAP RELEASABLY SECURD TO THE FIRING CHAMBER, SAID EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGE COMPRISED OF A CASING AND A HEAT AT ONE END OF THE CASING, SAID CAP BEARING AGAINST THE HEAD TO RETAIN THE CARTRIDGE IN THE FIRING CHAMBER, AND MEANS ON THE CAP FOR PUNCTURING THE HEAD OF THE CASING TO PERMIT THE ESCAPE OF COMBUSTION GASES FROM THE CARTRIDGE UPON THE REMOVAL OF THE CAP. 